Director of Special Education

Thea Bowman Leadership Academy

POSITION: Director of Special Education

SCHOOL YEAR: 2025- 2026

REPORTS TO: Assistant Superintendent

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Special Education provides leadership, oversight, and coordination of all special education services across the K–12 charter school. This individual ensures compliance with federal and state laws governing services for students with disabilities and works collaboratively with administrators, teachers, and families to support equitable access to high-quality instruction and services.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or related field.
• Valid state certification in Special Education and/or Educational Administration.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in special education, including leadership or supervisory roles.
• Strong knowledge of IDEA, Section 504, and state-specific special education regulations.
• Proven ability to lead and collaborate effectively with staff, families, and community partners.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience in a charter school or innovative educational environment.
• Experience managing compliance audits and special education reporting systems.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive special education program aligned with the school’s mission and state/federal requirements.
• Oversee the identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities.
• Supervise and evaluate special education staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers.
• Collaborate with general education leadership to ensure inclusive practices and differentiated instruction across all classrooms.
• Ensure full compliance with IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and all relevant state and local regulations.
• Prepare and maintain accurate documentation, student records, and reports required by the state and charter authorizer.
• Coordinate and lead IEP and 504 meetings to ensure appropriate service delivery and documentation.
• Monitor implementation of IEPs and provide support to staff for adherence and quality assurance.
• Provide ongoing professional development for teachers and staff on special education procedures, instructional strategies, and behavior management.
• Serve as a resource for staff and families regarding special education processes and best practices.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive school culture that values diversity and individualized learning.
• Communicate effectively with families regarding services, rights, and progress of students with disabilities.
• Coordinate with external agencies and service providers to support students’ educational and social-emotional needs.
• Develop and manage the special education budget, including staffing, contracted services, and materials.
• Monitor use of federal and state special education funds to ensure alignment with program goals and compliance requirements.

Working Conditions and Physical Environment

Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer terminal; hear and understand speech at normal levels; physical agility to lift up to 50 pounds; to bend, to stoop, to sit on the floor, to climb stairs, to walk and to reach overhead.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Director of Special Education will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Superintendent or appropriate administrator. Thea Bowman Leadership Academy reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.

Contract Period: 12 months

Salary/Benefits: Salary to be determined

Reports to: School Assistant Superintendent

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Please send letter of interest and credentials/resume to:

GeTina Williams

Human Resources

gwilliams@theabowmanacademy.org

3401 W 5th Ave.

Gary, IN 46406